Choosing colors while rebuilding a small wardrobe

[HannahElug]

I am helping organize relaxed family photos at home, and I want everyone to look like themselves rather than wear matching outfits. The room has one large window and a plain wall we can use as a backdrop. I considered hanging a vivid blue backdrop. I worry it will pull attention away from faces. A neutral cloth might be calmer, although beige seems to wash out one person's pale shirt. Skin tones vary across the group and nobody wants to purchase an outfit just for one afternoon. I have been reading about color analysis as one way to think about contrast, while keeping the actual clothing choices flexible. Would you test the backdrop first with each person standing in the same patch of window light? I can make a few quick test photos and compare them side by side before we commit to the setup. I would welcome a simple rule for balancing clothing colors with the background without making the group look artificially coordinated. How do you keep the faces prominent in a mixed group? We have room to try another background and I am open to testing rather than guessing.